*REVIEW* Famous Last Words



Synopsis:

Willa is freaking out. It seems like she's seeing things. Like a dead body in her swimming pool. Frantic messages on her walls.  A reflection that is not her own. It's almost as if someone -- or something -- is trying to send her a message.

Meanwhile, a killer is stalking Los Angeles -- a killer who reenacts famous movie murder scenes. Could Willa's strange visions have to do with these unsolved murders? Or is she going crazy? And who can she confide in? There's Marnie, her new friend who may not be totally trustworthy. And there's Reed, who's ridiculously handsome and seems to get Willa. There's also Wyatt, who's super smart but unhealthily obsessed with the Hollywood Killer.

All Willa knows is, she has to confront the possible-ghost in her house, or she just might lose her mind... or her life.

Famous Last Words is an entertaining and fast-paced read that I devoured in just a couple days. While the identity of the 'Hollywood Killer' was slightly predictable (mmkay, a whole lot predictable, I called it way early on), I was still completely invested in the story and wanted to see how things played out. Katie Alender weaved a tale that was a solid 4 stars. If mystery, murder, and ghostly mayhem are some of your things, this book could be for you.

Famous Last Words introduces us to Willa, a teenage girl uprooted and relocated to L.A. when her mom marries a famous Hollywood director. It's hard to feel too sorry for Willa when you read about the new mansion she'll be living in, complete with killer pool, killer views, and a killer--ghost?! Soon after moving in, Willa encounters some strange phenomenon... phenomenon that has her wondering whether or not her house (and her ghost) are somehow related to the Hollywood Killer's murders. Enlisting the help of Wyatt, a strange yet intriguing classmate, Willa begins to try to communicate with the ghost to discover the truth. Will Willa learn what she needs to learn in time, or will she be the next target of the infamous killer? 

I was surprised by how much I liked this one because while it definitely sounded interesting, I figured it would just be all right. Some of these murder mysteries end up being not all that mysterious and while the killer in this one was pretty predictable, the story was still pure entertainment. I really liked the supernatural element as well. The truly surprising thing about this book was the empathy you end up feeling for Willa as you watch her learn to love herself again and to allow other people in. And yes, there's even some love in this book. All good things. Check it out in September. Enjoy!

Expected publication date: September 30, 2014 by Point

No comments:

 
Imagination Designs